The Technology Strategy Board has conditionally awarded 60% funding for the Proof of Concept for the Kemuri Smart Power Socket. This is the public description.
A need has been identified for a Smart Power Socket, permanently fixed to a wall that has sensors for temperature, humidity, motion and power usage. It has to send data continuously via the Internet, including during periods of power outage.
No compact and tamperproof Smart Power Socket is on the market to satisfy the need. The design is unique and capable of being developed into versions for Europe and the rest of the World.
The concept was awarded a prize to build the first demonstrator. This was built and successfully tested. This project takes the demonstrator through more stages of development to prepare for larger scale manufacture. This includes professional design of the enclosure, internal electronics and a set of new prototypes. It requires funds for IPR registration and certification for safety and radio frequency emissions.
The use case is in the kitchens of vulnerable people living alone. They must consent to sharing data with family members or carers.
The POC also includes setting up test software for data collection, predictive analytics, identity management and smartphone visualisation. The results are a prototype system that gives hourly and daily indicators of wellbeing without any active input from the older person using the kitchen.
It’s good news for the millions of older people who would prefer to live alone in their own homes with non-intrusive support from their families.
Quarkside 